Hydraulic belt stretcher



Jan. 17, 1933. w. F. suTToN ET Al.

HYDRAULIC BELT STRETCHER Kimm 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fm n, l f/ Jan. 17, 1933.-

w. F. suTToN Er Al.

' HYDRAULIC BELT STRETCHER original Filed Feb. 24. 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I brozwu l Patented Jan. 17, 199393 UNITED STATES PATENT ortica wrLnY r.- sU'rroN, or eLADEwarEn, AND' JULIUs r. naman, or contenu, 'r1-.ns

HYDRAULIC BELT STBETCm Application illed February 24, 1928, Serial No. 356,695. Renewed lay 81, 1988.

i This invention relates to the stretching of drive belts and provides simple, efect1ve and readily operable means for taklng up slack, `or drawing a belt taut without the necessity t. of removing it from the pulley.

The invention furthermore provides a device of the character aforesaid which may be easil lmanipulated by a single person for tightenlng the belt and holding the same securely during the fastening of the ends, and removing it from the belt after the ends have been fastened. c

The vinvention comprises a suitable frame, belt clamps, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, the clamps being connected with the piston and cylinder, respectively, for movement therewith, a pump for supplying liquld under pressure to the cylinder when stretching the belt, and means for releasing the pressure after the belt has been stretched'and-v fastened to admit of ready removal of the stretcher. v 1

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departingl from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding ofthe invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had lto the following description and the drawin s hereto attached, in which,-

igure 1 is a top plan view 'of a belt stretcher embodying the invention, a portion being in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section of a portion of the pump and the valved induction and eduction pipes connected therewith.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred 4 to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The frame of the device includes c linders 1 and a plate 2 connecting the cylin ers and forming supporting means for a tank 3 and pump 4. The cylinders 1 are of small bore and of some considerable length to provide Vample allowance for stretching a-belt. The plate 2 provides connectin means for. the cylmders, which are dispose in parallelrelation. Semi-circular depressions 5 are formed v adJacent opposite ends of the plate 2 and provide seats in which the cylinders 1 are fitted. Cap plates 6 are bolted to the plate 2 and confine the cylinders 1 within the recesses 5.

The tank 3 is adapted to contain' a quantity of liquid and may be secured to the plate 2 in any determinate way. The pump 4 is likewise secured to the plate 2 and is connected to the tank 3 by means of a pipe 7 in the length of which is located a check valve 8 to prevent return of the liquid from the pump to the tank. A ipe 9 connects with the pump 4 and is provi ed in its length with a check valve 10 which prevents return of the liquid from the cylinders to the pump. The pump piston is connected to an operating lever 11 which is connected tothe plate 2 lby means of a link 12. The pipe 13 connects the cylinders 1 and the eduction pipe 9 from the pump 4 is connected thereto. A- pressure indicating gage 14 isv connected with the pipe 13. A return pipe 15 connects the pipe 13 with the tank 3 and is provided in its length with a valve 16 which is closed when the cylinders 1 are under pressure and which is opened to relieve the pressure after the belt has been stretched and fastened to admit of read removal of the stretcher.

Pistons 1 operating in the cylinders 1 are connected to rods 18 which operate through stuiling boxes 19 at the ends of the c linders to which the pipe 13 is connected. fitting 20 at the outer end of each of the rods 18 is connected by means of a clevis 21 to a belt clamp 22. tip 23 is fitted to an end of each of the cylinders 1 and the pipe13 is coupled thereto. A tip 24 is fitted to the opposite end of each of the cylinders 1 and is connected by means of a clevis 21 with a belt clamp 22. The pipe 13 is provided in its length with 100 2 menace a coil 25 to compensate for contract-ierland expansion to prevent straining the yoint formed between said pipe and the tip 23.

'l` he belt clamps 22 are oflike formation, 5 each comprisingsimilar members which are connected at opposite ends by means of bolts 26. rllhe clamps are formed with extensions 2'? which are notched to receive the clevises 21 so as to prevent displacement thereof. The

l@ ends of the belt to be stretched are clamped between the members comprising the parts 22 and upon operating the pump l liquid is drawn from the tank 3 into the pump cylin der through the eduction pipe 7 and is l@ forced from the pump cylinder through the eduction pipe 9 into the pipe 13, thence into the cylinders 1 and causing the pistons 17 to move inwardly therein. This action draws the clamps 22 together and 'eiw ects a stretching of the belt which is held during the fastening of the ends. After the belt has been tightened and fastened the valve 16 is opened, thereby relieving the pressure lwhich passes from the cylinders through 25 the pipes 13 and 15 back into the tank 3. The

construction admits of the device being manipulated by one person, both when placing the stretcher in position and when removing it from the belt after the latter has been stretched and fastened. The belt, when stretched, is held until fastened, because the pressure Within the cylinders is maintained until relieved by opening of the valve 16.

Having thus described the invention, We claim:

An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a plate having longitudinal depressions near its side edges, cylinders seated in said depressions, caps secured on the plate 30, over the cylinders whereby the cylinders will be supported and maintained in parallel relation by and at opposite sides of the plate, pistons in the cylinders, a rod extending from each piston through one end of the respective cylinder, Work-engaging means connecting the outer ends of said rods, work-engaging means connecting the ends of the cylinders remote from the outer ends of the rods,

a tank on the plate, a pump on thel plate connected with the tank, a transverse pipe connected with the outlet of the pump and having its ends connected with the respective cylinders, said pipe having a coil formed therein between its ends, and a valve connection between the transverse pipe and the tank.

In testimony whereof We allix our signatures.

WILEY F. SUTTON. JULIUS r. HENSLER. 

